The annual Sydney Royal Easter Show has a rival this year in the form of a smaller, free event at the Entertainment Quarter at Moore Park called the Sydney Family Show. It is making an unashamed grab for parents who think the Royal Agricultural Society's show - where family tickets cost almost $95 - has become too expensive.

But is Sydney big enough for both events?

The RAS has already stopped its rival using ''Easter'' in its title, and many big-name showbag companies have refused to supply the smaller event.

The EQ show will be held at the former home of the Royal Easter Show in the first two weeks of next month, coinciding with the show at Olympic Park, but featuring only carnival-style attractions such as rides, petting zoos and showbags - no agricultural displays or competitions.

Originally the new show was called the ''EQ Family Easter Show'', but RAS lawyers wrote to its operator, OFA Showstar, last month demanding that it ''immediately discontinue and forever refrain from using either the terms 'Easter Show' or 'Show', '' in relation to staging this or any other events during the Easter period''.

The lawyers also questioned whether the new event was a show at all, given that it would not involve produce or livestock displays.

OFA Showstar removed ''Easter'' from the title but refused to buckle on ''show''.

Their lawyers told the RAS: ''The word show is used widely in the community … we would reject any assertion by you that our client is not entitled to use the word show to promote its event.''

Some big-brand showbag companies that supply the Royal Easter Show and other independent shows have refused to supply the Sydney Family Show.

A ticket to the Sydney Royal Easter Show for a family of four costs $93.50. Showbags aimed at under-fives, such as the Wiggles Bag, cost $25. Admission is free at the smaller event and the most expensive showbag costs $20.

A spokeswoman for the RAS, which is a not-for-profit organisation, said it was satisfied with its rival's change of name and that tickets for the Royal Easter Show were good value, given there was 12 hours of entertainment on offer.

The Sydney Family Show has a sponsorship agreement with The Sun-Herald, a newspaper owned by Fairfax Media, publisher of The Sydney Morning Herald.